The heraldic term for a horizontal stripe where the centre line lies along the
horizontal meridian of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering thereof, and which
(in strict heraldic usage) should occupy one-third the width of that shield, banner of
arms or quartering – but see ‘triband’, and
compare with
‘bar’ (also
‘banner of arms’, ‘in fess’,
‘perfess’ and
‘quartering 1)’).

Shield from the National Arms of Austria (CS); National Flag of
Austria (fotw);
Flag of Hard, Austria (fotw);
National Flag of The Netherlands (fotw); Civil Ensign of
Hungary (fotw)

In vexillology a fess and a bar are regarded as almost synonymous, however, please note
that in strict heraldic usage there is a size difference between the two (as listed
herein), and that a fess should be confined to the centreline of the field whereas a bar
or bars need not.

1) In traditional heraldry see ‘in fess’.
2) In some heraldic usage this term relates specifically to the axis of a charge or charges, rather than to its, or their position, on a shield, a banner of arms or a flag – but see ‘in fess’
as referenced above, and the note below.

A flag that appears in a work of fiction either visual or written - which may or may not have
physical existence as a flag - but which is (entirely or largely) a product of the author’s
imagination (see also ‘fictitious flag’ below).

Flag from the Science Fiction TV Series Star Trek (fotw); Flag of Strackenz from the Movie
Royal Flash (fotw); Flag of
Sulaco from the novel Nostromo (fotw)

Spurious Flag of the Congo from the film Dark of the Sun (fotw);
Spurious Flag of French Morocco from the film Casablanca (fotw);
Spurious Soviet Naval Flag from the
Film K19

FIELD

1) The whole background or predominant colour of a flag – the ground of a
flag.

2) In heraldry, the surface of a shield upon which charges or bearings are
blazoned, or of each separate coat when the shield is quartered or impaled (see
also ‘blazon’,
‘coat’,
‘impale’,
‘shield’ and
‘quarter’).

Please note that the term is sometimes spelt “fillet” but in this form it
has a different meaning in English heraldry – see ‘fillet 2)’ and ‘fillet 3)’.

FILLET

1) A frequent misspelling of the heraldic term filet - see ‘filet’.
2) A heraldic term used to describe a second chief placed below that at the top of a
shield or banner of arms; it is suggested by some sources that a fillet should have a
depth equal to one-fourth of the chief above and by others that it is merely a
diminutive of that term – see ‘chief’.
3) The term may also be used to describe a narrow headband or plain coronet –
see ‘coronet 1)’.

1) Generically on flags, a (relatively) narrow band or line of contrasting
colour separating two areas of the same, similar or differing colour, such as
a band, charge or canton, from its field. Its use in flags is derived from the
application of the heraldic rule of tincture. Two tinctures can be separated
by a band of a metal (gold/yellow or silver/white) or two metals by a band of
one or other tincture.

2) Specifically and in heraldry, as above but a narrow band or line placed
on a shield, banner of arms or flag in accordance with the rule of tincture –
see ‘rule of tincture’ (also
‘border’snd
‘multi-stripe’)

A cast or carved ornament (such as a cross, crescent, crown or spearhead)
placed at the top of the flagpole, mast or flag staff above the truck or on the
top of a staff – a staff ornament (see also ‘Appendix I’,
‘ferrule’, ‘flag pole’,
‘pike’,
‘staff 2)’ and
‘truck’).

US Military Finials: President, Navy and Army (fotw)

FIRE ALERT FLAG

In largely US usage, a flag with a red field and inscriptions raised in conjunction
with a wildfire danger warning by the Forestry Commissions of many states (see also
‘red flag 1)’).

Red Fire Alert Flag of the Oklahoma Forestry Commission, US (CS)

FIRESTEEL

1) Generically in heraldry, a charge intended to represent the hand held anvil from which a spark is struck.

2) Specifically In Eastern European heraldry as above but presented as a
‘C’ shaped charge – an ocila or otsila - for example those on the shield in Serbia’s national arms.